Ohio State hired NFL coach Matt Patricia as its new defensive coordinator following reports that the two sides were nearing a deal, the university announced Thursday as part of multiple staff changes.

National champion Ohio State made the appointments of defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline official on Thursday.

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was excited for Matt Patricia to become the next defensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He posted a congratulatory message on his Instagram story after hearing the news. “Huge get for the program. Congrats Matty P,” Edelman posted.

Matt Patricia became a household name with the Patriots, but his journey to Ohio State football started in New York — where he went from an engineer to a Syracuse graduate assistant.

In the weeks immediately after defeating Notre Dame and winning the 2024 College Football Playoff championship, Ohio State underwent significant, sweeping changes to its coaching staff, with Chip Kelly leaving to be the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles taking the same role at Penn State,

The Ohio State Buckeyes have their new defensive coordinator. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the reigning national champions were finalizing a deal to make former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia their new defensive play-caller.

Ohio State is still searching for a replacement for Jim Knowles as the team’s next defensive coordinator, and now a former NFL assistant and head coach could be

Day is hiring Patricia to fill the void left by defensive coordinator Jim Knowles leaving for the same job at Penn State.

Week 1 isn’t going to be the best version of the 2025 defense. And in the expanded College Football Playoff era, it doesn’t need to be.